Politics mars Jasmin’s memorial service

January 4 2014 at 12:15pm
By BRENDAN ROANE and SAPA

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERSIsabel du Toit the grandmother of murdered Jasmin Pretorius is consoled by a police woman during a memorial service that was held at Siloam Ministries in Brakpan. Picture: Antoine de Ras

While mourners listened to stories about the the four-year-old who was murdered, allegedly by her uncle, another group staged a walk-out protesting the presence of national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, and ANC Women’s League members.

“This is not a political thing; it is for a white child that was murdered,” said biker Riaan Steenkamp as he stormed out of the church. He was part of about 1 500 bikers who had attended the memorial service but later walked out.